From the DP: The mall, widely touted as the epicenter of city life, marked its 35th anniversary last summer, but there has been an uptick in disorderly activity, according to a statement accompanying the proposal on a list of unfunded city projects.

“The city has seen an increase in pedestrian traffic, unruly juveniles, crimes associated with homelessness and aggressive panhandling. Without this plan, the department will be forced to continue to spend overtime and other resources to address these problems and miss an opportunity to improve public safety on and around the Downtown Mall,” the statement reads. “… Merchant and citizen stakeholders have also voiced concerns that the Downtown Mall is an unsafe environment and that change can only be achieved through the leveraging of technology and additional resources.”

Crime Politics